Will there ever be an end to the discourse on Nigerian President's nepotism?

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari appoints Level 12 officer, lacking ‘vast experience’, as head Rural Electrification Agency

President Muhammadu Buhari approved a former mid-level civil servant to head a crucial electrification agency, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Perhaps to conceal the fact that the appointment would be questioned by Nigerians, the appointee was described in a public press statement as an expert with “vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.”

A spokesperson announced Tuesday that the president approved the appointment of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency.

Aaron Artimas, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of Power, made details of the appointment known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement said that Mr Ahmad is a renewable energy expert who holds two master’s degrees in development studies and project planning. He is also said to have “vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.”

PREMIUM TIMES’ check revealed, however, that Mr Ahmad was a level 12 public official and son of Salihijo Mohammed Ahmed, a former managing director of Afri-Project Consortium. Mr Salihijo was a major project consultant to the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). He passed died on on July 7, 1999.

While alive, he was a strong ally of Mr Buhari, who was then the Chairman of PTF. Mr Buhari was appointed to head the PTF by the late military head of state, Sani Abacha.

Appointment
On Tuesday, the statement announcing the appointment of Mr Ahmad said he has “vast experience in the power sector development”.

But insiders who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES disputed the claim. Details seen by this newspaper showed that Mr Ahmad graduated in 2006 with BSC Electronic Engineering. After graduation, he served the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in 2007 and was employed in 2008 at the infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) where Mansur Ahmed, one-time Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, headed. Mr (Mansur) Ahmed is said to be one of the new appointee’s relatives.

In 2010, while at ICRC, there was a directive that the employment grade of Mr (Salihijo) Ahmad and a few others should be adjusted. Subsequently, his position was adjusted to Grade Level 9 Step 2, according to internal correspondence seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

While still at ICRC, he was posted on secondment as a personal assistant to the then Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed. His last known promotion in the civil service Grade Level 12, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. One source said he left the ICRC in 2018.

Insiders say contrary to the “vast experience” the new MD is not known as a knowledgeable and experienced expert in the Nigerian power sector.

Nepotistic appointment?
The new appointment yet again raises questions about Mr Buhari’s penchant for appointing people into positions of authority not necessarily based on track records of excellence and expertise.

Since it came into power in 2015, the Buhari-led government has been charged with several allegations of nepotism in the appointment of public officials and other key governmental decisions.

In November 2018, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Buhari approved the appointment of his son-in-law, Junaid Abdullahi, as Executive Secretary at the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA)His appointment took effect from September 22 for an initial period of four years..

PREMIUM TIMES first reported on November 5 that Mr Abdullahi, a retired airline pilot, had been quietly appointed head of the border agency. He was married to Zulaihat, the president’s first daughter, who passed on in November 2012 aged 40.

On Tuesday, the latest appointment raised questions about the president’s record of appointing officials based on other considerations apart from competence and experience.

Officials React
When contacted, the newly appointed MD, Mr Ahmad, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ request to speak with him on the issue. When this newspaper called his known telephone number Wednesday morning, he did not respond. He has also not responded to multiple text messages sent to him as at the time of filing this report Wednesday afternoon.

When contacted on why the president made such appointment, Mr Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, advised our reporter to contact either the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

“My advice is that the President must not be the news source of first instance. It is either you get in touch with the Minister of Power who oversees the affairs of the agency and may have made the recommendation to the president for the appointment, or the SGF, who may have issued the appointment,” Mr Shehu said.

Mr Shehu later called back to request for some time to get across to the Minister of Power for his side of the story. Separate calls and messages sent to the minister of power were not answered.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/370749-exclusive-buhari-appoints-level-12-officer-lacking-vast-experience-as-head-rural-electrification-agency.html

All hail buhari!!

Men who are barely fit to be tribal leaders in a remote village end up in critical leadership positions.
Nigeria is a joke.

How did we get here...

DennisEche:
Make I wait for this man comment before I talk. FYI this is , you all can see how he looks, the mods are suppose to ban him for claiming female while he is male

So this is the bigot?

With his resume and probably age alongside the experience at ICRC, you may arguably say he can be good enough only that he is one too many of the alleged nepotism by Buhari.

DennisEche:
Yes

He is a dealer in the carcass of dead cattle. See his head like Lassana Diarra.

A level 12 staff is exposed enough to undertake the job of a level 17 staff, I pray he executes his responsibilities efficiently and effectively.

Is the position not a political one? Why the emphasis on his grade when he was still in the civil service?

They should leave him abeg. He is a youth and will bring fresh ideas on board.

Since I heard the news, I have been searching the name ever since. I love the fact that he is young. but why lie that he is over qualified

I am sure buhari will say he did not know anything about this appointment

Are you kidding me?. This guy is extremely qualified na. Electronic engineer. Ordinary rural electrification. That's burying poles and laying cables. These days you put 500kw solar per community.
How is he nor qualified?
There are too many kids on Nairaland. In every country it is who a President knows first that he appoints. There is no job interview. Stop infantile thinking. The real world is not taking JAMB exam
Most of Buhari appointees will do well. This one Buhari knows his dad thats how the world works. Trump is doing this kind of thing very well in the US. Erdogan appointed his son in law Finance Minister in Turkey. All UK Prime Ministers from the conservative party were school mates and friends from secondary school and university

ofeco:
A level 12 staff is exposed enough to undertake the job of a level 17 staff, I pray he executes his responsibilities efficiently and effectively.

Same thought..

Going by his years of experience and educational/Engineering background he could be well qualified for the position.

Note: Political positions in MDAs both Fed & States don't usually go by Levels.

God have answer this man prayer and I know that I too will have very important things to be celebrate this year.

agabusta:
Is the position not a political one? Why the emphasis on his grade when he was still in the civil service?

They should leave him abeg. He is a youth and will bring fresh ideas on board.

Help me tell PT and some uninformed folks here.

Again Political Appointments in MDAs DO NOT go by Levels..

Our MDA once had a GM appointed who was a Level or two lower than one of our HoD.

If he's qualified to do the Job then all the best to him

I’m only amazed that dem mannabbq and his fellows in the congress of idiots with all their “darling daddy” rants never get considered for these appointments.

I am not surprised.

Through his father in PTF, buhari perpetrated his worse nepostic tendies cornering all the juicy contracts to themselves. The man was so corrupt but buhari looked the other way.

If you are not surprise garder here please

Jimi24:
Are you kidding me?. This guy is extremely qualified na. Electronic engineer. Ordinary rural electrification. That's burying poles and laying cables. These days you put 500kw solar per community.
How is he nor qualified?
There are too many kids on Nairaland. In every country it is who a President knows first that he appoints. There is no job interview. Stop infantile thinking. The real world is not taking JAMB exam
Most of Buhari appointees will do well. This one Buhari knows his dad thats how the world works. Trump is doing this kind of thing very well in the US. Erdogan appointed his son in law Finance Minister in Turkey. All UK Prime Ministers from the conservative party were school mates and friends from secondary school and university

All these places you mentioned, are they a complex nation encompassing several nationalities like Nigeria?

When it suits your narrative, you will refer to what happens elsewhere, and at other times, you say your own democracy is home-grown.

A good leader would be that who respects the principles of federal character and respect the sensibilities of the people.

Blame the South West! They thought they will be part of the spoils of war(2015 election)

Borderless:
I’m only amazed that dem mannabbq and his fellows in the congress of idiots with all their “darling daddy” rants never get considered for these appointments.

After all the ass kissing-all they are good for is to be BMC crew members spreading lies.

The article by PT is nothing but a smear campaign. It is just a personal attack against the person of the new MD. The guy has more than 10 years experience in public service largely in the power sector. So, if Buhari appoints Dora Akunyili's daughter to a position, will they term it as 'nepotistic'? Salihijo Ahmed was instrumental to the success of the PTF which is arguably the most successful government intervention since independence. Linking the guy to his late father should even be a plus not a blemish. Shalom

Happy new year to all Nairalanders, this year more profits for all business owners, more promotions for all workers and more favour for all the Job seekers In Jesus Name. No one will die prematurely, we will all live to fulfill our purposes In Jesus Name. Have a fruitful year.
Love you all

bajeen:
The article by PT is nothing but a smear campaign. It is just a personal attack against the person of the new MD. The guy has more than 10 years experience in public service largely in the power sector. So, if Buhari appoints Dora Akunyili's daughter to a position, will they term it as 'nepotistic'? Salihijo Ahmed was instrumental to the success of the PTF which is arguably the most successful government intervention since independence. Linking the guy to his late father should even be a plus not a blemish. Shalom

PTF succesful . Under his watch N25 billion naira was stolen and that was big money back then.

Olodos in power

Literally